Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

I don't think of flamboyant as gay, rather colorful and flashy, in your face style. To me, a straight man with mohawk, stuff shaved on one side of his hair, a pink stripe shirt, madras shorts, and chuck taylors is flamboyant. A fragrance like this would match that description. This is a flamboyant fragrance.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

I still remember, when I went in to smell this at Sephora a couple of years ago. A VERY attractive SA asked if I needed help, and I asked if I could smell Black Orchid. She replied with the typical "Oh that's for women" BS, and I explained that it's actually considered unisex now by even Tom Ford and many consider it unisex. So we walk over to the women's section and she begins spraying some into a little sample atomizer, and she sticks her nose in and smells and I kid you not replies "Ahhhhhhhh, you're right! It DOES smell like something a man would wear. Mmmmmmmm, this would smell SO sexy on a man!".

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by mtgprox05

I still remember, when I went in to smell this at Sephora a couple of years ago. A VERY attractive SA asked if I needed help, and I asked if I could smell Black Orchid. She replied with the typical "Oh that's for women" BS, and I explained that it's actually considered unisex now by even Tom Ford and many consider it unisex. So we walk over to the women's section and she begins spraying some into a little sample atomizer, and she sticks her nose in and smells and I kid you not replies "Ahhhhhhhh, you're right! It DOES smell like something a man would wear. Mmmmmmmm, this would smell SO sexy on a man!".

To be honest, I think the SA tried to make you buy it immediately.

What surprises me tremendously, is that you ask to smell something and the SA makes you a sample of it, seriously, there is just no chance this would happen here in Belgium as far as I know. The only thing you can get here is a spray on a card and maybe, just maybe, if you ask it, they might spray some on your skin. They would rather drop dead then give out a sample.
You guys in the USA are so lucky.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by JBL

To be honest, I think the SA tried to make you buy it immediately.

What surprises me tremendously, is that you ask to smell something and the SA makes you a sample of it, seriously, there is just no chance this would happen here in Belgium as far as I know. The only thing you can get here is a spray on a card and maybe, just maybe, if you ask it, they might spray some on your skin. They would rather drop dead then give out a sample.
You guys in the USA are so lucky.

Oh yea, I forgot to mention that I made it clear from the beginning that I had already smelled it and wanted to know if I could get a sample to bring it home for testing. At our Sephoras they have 2+ ml decants that they will make samples for you with.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Ha, leave the guy a loan. He said that he felt you had to be flamboyant to were this he didn't say gay. Gay and flamboyant are not mutually inclusive. Some of the most flamboyant guys I know are straight and vise versa. I for one love this cologne and wear it. But I can understand that a lot of men and some women would steer away from it.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by Marc Anthony

Ha, leave the guy a loan. He said that he felt you had to be flamboyant to were this he didn't say gay. Gay and flamboyant are not mutually inclusive. Some of the most flamboyant guys I know are straight and vise versa. I for one love this cologne and wear it. But I can understand that a lot of men and some women would steer away from it.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by The_Cologneist

I don't think of flamboyant as gay, rather colorful and flashy, in your face style. To me, a straight man with mohawk, stuff shaved on one side of his hair, a pink stripe shirt, madras shorts, and chuck taylors is flamboyant. A fragrance like this would match that description. This is a flamboyant fragrance.

That's what I thought you were getting at in the first place. I see how "flamboyant" can have nothing to do with sexuality. It's a bit shallow to automatically assume that it does. Flamboyant def: "Strikingly bold or brilliant". There's nothing about sexuality in the definition. I guess the tables turned. The folks that were offended by the original statement should have left the silly stereotype alone. There's too much read into words at times.

I didn't get my drawers in a butch over it.

Since Black Orchid is so "FLASHY", I should sample it just to see for myself.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by stevolution

\ Flamboyant def: "Strikingly bold or brilliant". There's nothing about sexuality in the definition. I guess the tables turned. The folks that were offended by the original statement should have left the silly stereotype alone. There's too much read into words at times.

That is NOT the definition of flamboyant that I would use, nor do I expect it to be the one others might have been offended by. IMO, flamboyancy is generally a negative attribute. A closer definition to how I perceive it would be: "marked by ostentation but often tasteless; "a cheap showy rhinestone bracelet"; "a splashy half-page ad"".

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by mtgprox05

That is NOT the definition of flamboyant that I would use, nor do I expect it to be the one others might have been offended by. IMO, flamboyancy is generally a negative attribute. A closer definition to how I perceive it would be: "marked by ostentation but often tasteless; "a cheap showy rhinestone bracelet"; "a splashy half-page ad"".

I'd suggest you grab a dictionary, lol. I don't mean to be rude, but there's what you THINK a definition is, and what it actually is. I used it in the correct sense, in the way to get my feelings about this fragrance across. If I wanted to say "this is something a gay man would wear" I would have said that. There's a way of saying things with meaning to them, and there's just insulting people. I have no problem with gay people, I have gay friends, it's a personal preference. It's no different than me having a thing for Asian girls.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by stevolution

That's what I thought you were getting at in the first place. I see how "flamboyant" can have nothing to do with sexuality. It's a bit shallow to automatically assume that it does. Flamboyant def: "Strikingly bold or brilliant". There's nothing about sexuality in the definition. I guess the tables turned. The folks that were offended by the original statement should have left the silly stereotype alone. There's too much read into words at times.

I didn't get my drawers in a butch over it.

Since Black Orchid is so "FLASHY", I should sample it just to see for myself.

S

Well put too sir. Back on topic though, you should definitely try it. Tom Ford always gives out free samples, so you can get them that way. I think everyone should in fact try it and see what all the hype is about. It IS something to talk about because it does have huge character and personality.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by The_Cologneist

I'd suggest you grab a dictionary, lol. I don't mean to be rude, but there's what you THINK a definition is, and what it actually is. I used it in the correct sense, in the way to get my feelings about this fragrance across. If I wanted to say "this is something a gay man would wear" I would have said that. There's a way of saying things with meaning to them, and there's just insulting people. I have no problem with gay people, I have gay friends, it's a personal preference. It's no different than me having a thing for Asian girls.

First of all, I wasn't replying to anything you said. I was simply replying to what Stevolution said, and wasn't trying to instigate anything regarding sexual orientation. Second, that IS an official definition, the one I posted. That's word for word what the definition I found was, and I tend to agree moreso with that definition than the previous one.

Re: Another Black Orchid Thread..

Originally Posted by mtgprox05

That is NOT the definition of flamboyant that I would use, nor do I expect it to be the one others might have been offended by. IMO, flamboyancy is generally a negative attribute. A closer definition to how I perceive it would be: "marked by ostentation but often tasteless; "a cheap showy rhinestone bracelet"; "a splashy half-page ad"".

Exactly. Just what the definition said. "Strikingly BOLD", "Brilliant", "Flashy".

Rather or not it's a tacky, gaudy sort of "flamboyancy" is up to the beholder. A Cheap rhinestone is certainly "flashy" and it can be "brilliant" in the sun, but I've see some ugly outrageous real stuff, too. Here's ANOTHER def, and yes...it is OFFICIAL.

Flamboyant
Etymology: French, from present participle of flamboyer to flame, from Old French, from flambe
Date: 1832

Re: TF Black Orchid..

I asked Sephora to send me a sample of this with my order as they listed it as "Tom Ford Black Orchid Men's Fragrance" which I thought didn't sound right. Turns out there is no such thing, there's just this. Fine, still want to try it.This thread now has me even more curious. I'm pretty secure so I don't care about how this is marketed or whether its floral. If I like it, good enough. I also wear pink, purple, lavender and red, sometimes a combination of a couple of those! Surprise, women compliment me when I wear those colors (though they do when I wear black as well). Women are more impressed by style & presentation, and if you can pull off wearing a frag like Black Orchid, even better.

Re: TF Black Orchid..

I liked this a lot but now I find it really annoying. It can get really overwhelming. I find if I wear it one day, I can't wear it again till months later. It's really hard on the nose. I prefer the smoother Noir de Noir by TF.

Re: TF Black Orchid..

Originally Posted by Naitch

I asked Sephora to send me a sample of this with my order as they listed it as "Tom Ford Black Orchid Men's Fragrance" which I thought didn't sound right. Turns out there is no such thing, there's just this. Fine, still want to try it.

That is interesting. I believe we're witnessing a scent that was released as a feminine that has so much traction with men that they're "tinkering" the designation.

I had awhile back noticed that it was routinely being sold in the men's department of department stores that clearly delineate the men's frag section from the women's.

It reminds me of Bandit, a woman's scent from the 20's that now has wayyyy more fans among men.

Re: TF Black Orchid..

Re: TF Black Orchid..

Tom Ford EdP smells very unisex to me. I quite like it actually. To me it's very thick, dark, and rich. I could never pull this off here in AZ unless during the winter, and even then I can't wear it anywhere near my face because it will gross me out quickly. Single application to forearms is safest for me. I've been meaning to get this one for a while.

Re: TF Black Orchid..

Just finished my decant of it the other night (wore it to sleep), it's too feminine -- said with confidence. Sweet, in a sickly way, but with an edge to it. I think of a gourmand thrown into a bag of makeup, shaken up, then thrown in your face. Though, there's no doubt that this is an intriguing fragrance; it just isn't for me, I don't wanna wear it, I don't wanna smell it, and I don't wanna be around it.

Re: TF Black Orchid..

I really enjoy the drydown the most with BO. To me it has a carmel-like sweetness to it that I love. I also love the fact that I get 20+ hours out of it - great longevity! This one is another of my favorites. But yes, it has to be used very sparingly or everyone around you will be gagging. Give it time, try it out a few times, then see what you think.

Re: TF Black Orchid..

Originally Posted by The_Cologneist

Just finished my decant of it the other night (wore it to sleep), it's too feminine -- said with confidence. Sweet, in a sickly way, but with an edge to it. I think of a gourmand thrown into a bag of makeup, shaken up, then thrown in your face. Though, there's no doubt that this is an intriguing fragrance; it just isn't for me, I don't wanna wear it, I don't wanna smell it, and I don't wanna be around it.

Sorry, I hadn't read this post before I posted earlier. I guess if you've given it a chance and don't like it, it's not for you.